Legion by Brandon Sanderson

Title: Legion
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Fiction
Rating: LOVE
Alerts/Warnings: Moderate Violence, Mild Language
Premise: "Stephen Leeds, AKA 'Legion,' is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the story begins, Leeds and his 'aspects' are drawn into the search for the missing Balubal Razon, inventor of a camera whose astonishing properties could alter our understanding of human history and change the very structure of society"--From publisher description.
Opinions: This short story is stinkin' BRILLIANT!!!!! Stephen Leeds may suffer from a variety of mental conditions, but he owns it, and lets it become his strength. The creativity of having arguments with your own hallucinations, as well as ensuring they have their own rooms in your mansion is outstanding. Throw in the feel of Sherlock Holmes, an international thriller/mystery, and assassins, and talk about mind flip. Legion is Brandon Sanderson at his best. The humor and creative are outstanding.  I only gave this a love rating instead of fabulous due to the content that might be too much for some teen readers. As such, I recommend parents read this story first, then be open to a discussion with their kids.

As Chimney Sweepers Come To Dust by Alan Bradley

To read my reviews of the other books in this series, click here: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag, A Red Herring Without Mustard, I Am Half-Sick of Shadows, Speaking from Among the Bones, and The Dead In Their Vaulted Arches.

 


Title:  As Chimney Sweepers Come To Dust (Flavia de Luce Mystery #7)
Author: Alan Bradley
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Mystery
Rating: Love
Alerts/Warnings: Dead Body
Premise: "Youthful chemist and aspiring detective Flavia de Luce once again brings her knowledge of poisons and her indefatigable spirit to solve dastardly crimes -- but this time, she leaves behind her beloved English countryside, and takes her sleuthing prowess to the unexpectedly unsavory world of Canadian boarding schools!"-- Provided by publisher.
Opinions: I love this series.  I was so concerned that the last book but might have been the last one in the series, so I was thrilled to see the release of another one. It reads and feels like an Agatha Christie series, but with a tweenager heroine. Flavia is brilliant, spunky, slightly rebellious, and I love to see the world from her perspective.  This book shows what happens when you take Flavia out of her comfort zone, shipped across the Atlantic and put up in her mother's old boarding school in Toronto.  Flavia is used to being the odd duck in her family, now she's trying to come out of her mother's dead shadow to prove to herself who she wants to be in her world. When I skeleton comes crashing down from her bedroom fireplace her first night in the refurbished old church turned all girls' school at least that feels somewhat familiar to her. However, she must decide to follow her nature and unravel the mystery of the dead body and missing classmates or try to fit in with the crowd and not make waves.  It was a fascinating turn of events, plus it leaves hope for future additional Flavia de Luce novels, which just makes me happy.  So if you like murder mysteries then you should read this whole series.

Baked Alaska by Josi Kilpack

To read my reviews of the other books in this series, click here: Lemon Tart, English Trifle, Devil's Food Cake, Key Lime Pie, Blackberry Crumble, Pumpkin Roll, Banana Split and Tres Leches Cupcakes.











Title: Baked Alaska (Culinary Mystery #9)
Author: Josi S. Kilpack
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Mystery
Rating: Love
Alerts/Warnings: Murder
Premise: "Sadie Hoffmiller has gathered her family together to enjoy an Alaskan cruise and to help plan her daughter's wedding. But when her son's birthmother shows up on the ship, relationships become complicated. And once the dead bodies start appearing, Sadie realizes more than one person on the cruise is keeping secrets" (King County Library System).
Opinions: I love this book. Sadie is thrust into several emotional experiences surrounding her family that would tear at any mother's heart if they went through it. I was pulled into her internal struggles, her guilt, fears, and uncertainties. I enjoyed getting to see her with her kids again and the relationship that they were building with Pete. I loved the mystery surrounding their cruise. And oh my gosh there are so many recipes that I want to try from this book, including the Baked Alaska Cupcakes and the Salmon Potato Chowder. My mouth is already watering. I also can't wait to read the next installment of this series, Rocky Road.

The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley

To read my reviews of the other books in this series, click here: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag, A Red Herring Without Mustard, I Am Half-Sick of Shadows, and Speaking from Among the Bones.







Title: The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches (Flavia de Luce #6)
Author: Alan Bradley
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Murder Mystery
Rating: Fabulous
Alerts/Warnings: some vivid scenes
Premise: "On a spring morning in 1951, eleven-year-old chemist and aspiring detective Flavia de Luce gathers with her family at the railway station, awaiting the return of her long-lost mother, Harriet. Yet upon the train's arrival in the English village of Bishop's Lacey, Flavia is approached by a tall stranger who whispers a cryptic message into her ear. Moments later, he is dead, mysteriously pushed under the train by someone in the crowd. Who was this man, what did his words mean, and why were they intended for Flavia? Back home at Buckshaw, the de Luces' crumbling estate, Flavia puts her sleuthing skills to the test. Following a trail of clues sparked by the discovery of a reel of film stashed away in the attic, she unravels the deepest secrets of the de Luce clan, involving none other than Winston Churchill himself. Surrounded by family, friends, and a famous pathologist from the Home Office--and making spectacular use of Harriet's beloved Gypsy Moth plane, Blithe Spirit--Flavia will do anything, even take to the skies, to land a killer" (King County Library System).
Opinions: This book was a beautiful mix of an eleven-year old dealing with intense grief in overwhelming circumstances while still hunting for the truth. It felt real, raw and emotional from Flavia's perspective. You see the emotional/psychological twists she endures now that she is seeing things in a different light, and is becoming her own most unique and intriguing grown-up. I'm continually amazed by the depth of characters among the plethora of people crossing Flavia's stage. However, the one who has my heart the most is Dogger. He is forever a hero in my book and a man I wish I could know in real life. One of the other things I love about this series is the intermittent references to history, literature and music that makes me want to delve even deeper into their amazing culture. 

Alan Bradley has done a remarkable job on a brilliant series that steps out of the norm for the mysteries that I have read (keeping in mind my scope is more limited than I would prefer to admit. In the end this book (and its series) has left me thoughtful, intrigued, and envious. I definitely recommend it, but suggest that a parent read it first to know if their specific child can handle the content).

Tres Leches Cupcakes by Josi S. Kilpack

To read my reviews of the other books in this series, click here: Lemon Tart, English Trifle, Devil's Food Cake, Key Lime Pie, Blackberry Crumble, Pumpkin Roll, and Banana Split.



Title: Tres Leches Cupcakes (Culinary Mystery #8)
Author: Josi S. Kilpack
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Mystery
Rating: Love
Alerts/Warnings: None
Premise: "Sadie Hoffmiller is working undercover for the BLM on an archaeological site in New Mexico when she stumbles across a pair of recently deceased bodies and becomes involved in the black market world of Indian artifact theft" (King County Library System).
Opinions: Sadie is living in hiding in New Mexico from a character in one of her earlier stories. To keep her busy she is working a side job for the BLM trying to uncover who is stealing Native American artifacts. I loved to see her working her way back into the investigative action, and finding her comfort zone again. I love the ever growing relationship between her and Pete and the trust that continues to grow between them. I was also fascinated by the new cast of characters and friends and the new places she goes. One of my favorite scenes is when she goes investigating in a bar and gets in a fight. LOVE IT!!!!  I've also written down several of the recipes, especially a Crock Pot Posole while I hope to make for my family this week. Sounds delectable. I can't wait to read the next one.

Banana Split by Josi S. Kilpack

To read my reviews of the other books in this series, click here: Lemon Tart, English Trifle, Devil's Food Cake, Key Lime Pie, Blackberry Crumble, and Pumpkin Roll.



Title: Banana Split (Culinary Mystery #7)
Author: Josi S. Kilpack
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Mystery
Rating: Love
Alerts/Warnings: None
Premise: "Sadie Hoffmiller need some time to rest, and where better than in beautiful Hawaii? But when Sadie finds herself entangled--literally--with a body, she is forced to face the compounding fears that are making her life so difficult to live. Her determination to focus on her healing soon takes a backseat, however, when she meets the son of the woman whose body she discovered and decides to help him" (King County Library System).

Sadie Hoffmiller need some time to rest, and where better than in beautiful Hawaii? But when Sadie finds herself entangled--literally--with a body, she is forced to face the compounding fears that are making her life so difficult to live. Her determination to focus on her healing soon takes a backseat, however, when she meets the son of the woman whose body she discovered and decides to help him. - See more at: http://kcls.bibliocommons.com/item/show/979279082_banana_split#sthash.lcsQas8k.dpuf

Opinions: Banana Split was fascinating to read. Compared to the others in this series, it stood out because Sadie was having to deal with her own personal demons from the previous books as she tried to help Charlie, a Hawaiian boy in the foster care system, find out what happened to his recovering addict mother.  Having personal family members who are dealing with depression and anxiety, I felt a little more connected with Sadie allowing me to understand her feelings a little bit better as she tried to overcome here fears and not letting the anxiety control you.

I also loved the location for the story. Hawaii is always amazing, but I here Kaua'i is outstanding. I loved Josi's interpretation of life there and it reminds me of the time I stayed on the North Shore of O'ahu. I loved being taken back to my time there. The warmheartedness of the people, the beautify of the surroundings, the warm breeze and humid air.  (Okay I'm ready to go back.)  Anyway, the plot was intriguing, the character's growth wonderful, and the recipes delectable.   However, the questions I had at the end of the last book didn't get resolved in Banana Split, so I guess I'll just have to read the next book Tres Leche Cupcakes to find out more  ;-).

Pumpkin Roll by Josi S. Kilpack

 To read my reviews of the other books in this series click here: Lemon Tart, English Trifle, Devil's Food Cake, Key Lime Pie, and Blackberry Crumble.



Title: Pumpkin Roll (A Culinary Mystery #6)
Author: Josi S. Kilpack
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Mystery
Rating: Love
Alerts/Warnings:  None
Premise: "Sadie Hoffmiller is in Boston, Massachusetts, with her boyfriend, Pete Cunningham, babysitting his three young grandsons. The boys insist that Mrs. Wapple, the woman who lives across the street, is a witch, and Sadie and Pete are anxious to distract the boys from such Halloween-induced ideas. Then Mrs. Wapple is attacked in her home, and Sadie finds herself embroiled in a series of unexplained occurrences with life-or-death consequences" (King County Library System).

Sadie Hoffmiller is in Boston, Massachusetts, with her boyfriend, Pete Cunningham, babysitting his three young grandsons. The boys insist that Mrs. Wapple, the woman who lives across the street, is a witch, and Sadie and Pete are anxious to distract the boys from such Halloween-induced ideas. Then Mrs. Wapple is attacked in her home, and Sadie finds herself embroiled in a series of unexplained occurrences with life-or-death consequences. - See more at: http://kcls.bibliocommons.com/item/show/931134082_pumpkin_roll#sthash.louiLXtH.dpuf

Sadie Hoffmiller is in Boston, Massachusetts, with her boyfriend, Pete Cunningham, babysitting his three young grandsons. The boys insist that Mrs. Wapple, the woman who lives across the street, is a witch, and Sadie and Pete are anxious to distract the boys from such Halloween-induced ideas. Then Mrs. Wapple is attacked in her home, and Sadie finds herself embroiled in a series of unexplained occurrences with life-or-death consequences. - See more at: http://kcls.bibliocommons.com/item/show/931134082_pumpkin_roll#sthash.louiLXtH.dpuf

Opinions: Sadie Hoffmiller as a character is just fun to read. She seems like a twist on Miss Marple, but widowed instead of single.  She still has the brightness, humor, and intelligence that you get from Miss Marple.  On top of that you get loads of absolutely mouth watering recipes that tie into the story.  (Side note: I just found out that after the series is complete a cookbook containing all the recipes will be released. Though I still think I'll buy the entire series.) 

This book felt different than those that I've read leading up to it. This one had more of a creepy feel dealing with the possibilities of ghosts and psychopaths, perfect for the Halloween/Fall time frame that the book is set in. Sadie is forced to look at what she believes versus what is happening to her, her "boyfriend" Pete, and his grandchildren. I think the creepy feeling increased because there were children involved. However, I think Josi didn't a fantastic job with the plot twists, and intertwining the feel of Boston into her story. I really enjoyed reading Pumpkin Roll and found it hard to put it down. The end made me do a double take and with my jaw dropped. I'm eager to see where her next book, Banana Split, takes Sadie next.

I'll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark

Title: I'll Walk Alone
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Mystery
Rating: Like
Alerts/Warnings: Mild Language
Premise: "Thirty-year-old interior designer Alexandra Moreland, struggling to deal with the disappearance of her son, fights to uncover who is behind a plot to destroy her sanity and life" (King County Library System).
Opinions: I am a long-standing Mary Higgins Clark fan.  She has an innate ability to reveal layer by layer how a mystery affects each and every person involved, including the guilty. I only realized recently that I have missed a few of her more recent works.  When I did I immediately picked them up from my local library. 

Mary Higgins Clark does a brilliant job of interweaving a tale of suspense using identify theft of an up and coming Interior Designer in New York.  Add to that the mystery of her son's disappearance and you have an intriguing tale of deception, kidnapping, and possible murder.  I loved that we get to see Alvirah Meehan (a long standing amateur sleuth from earlier Mary Higgins Clark novels), but I really enjoyed the main character Alexandera Morland.  Being a mother of small children I could imagine the heartache she must have felt at the disappearance of her child and the betrayal when even her closest friends come to think she had kidnapped her own child.  Add the stress of someone stealing her identify and you have an explosive book that was hard to put down.  I loved seeing the emotional transitions the main character goes through and the strength she finds to carry on in utter turmoil.  Once again, Mary Higgins Clark has written an enjoyable suspense for mystery readers.

Blackberry Crumble by Josi S. Kilpack

For my reviews of other books in this series please click here: Lemon Tart, English Trifle, Devil's Food Cake, and Key Lime Pie.



Title: Blackberry Crumble: A Culinary Mystery (Sadie Hoffmiller Series #5)
Author: Josi S. Kilpack
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Mystery
Rating: Like
Alerts/Warnings: None
Premise: "When Sadie Hoffmiller is hired by May Sanderson to investigate the death of her father, Sadie travels to Oregon and uncovers a complicated plot of greed, shady business dealings, and more than one member of the Sanderson clan with a motive for murder" (King County Library System).
Opinions: I personally had a rough time at the start of reading this book. Sadie runs into difficulty when someone from her past ends up painting her in a bad light, and I love Sadie as if she were part of my family. So I was peeved that someone would treat her in such a manner.  I mean. . .How dare they?  Shamefully, I admit that I returned the book to the library only half read, because I couldn't handle it.  (Blush - Yes I get that involved sometimes).  Being a new year, I decided to return to the story to see if I was ready to learn how it progressed. I am glad that I did.  I still love the characters.  I love this modern day Miss Marple placed in Colorado, but travelling the world helping to solve murders.  The more I read about Sadie's love interest, the more I am so happy he's a part of her stories.  Also, even though a certain individual toward the beginning of the book caused my temporary hiatus from reading this story, I was glad I went back to find out if the traitor was redeemed in Sadie's eyes or if Sadie would find herself traveling a similar path.  I definitely recommend this series for its fun characters, intriguing twists, and fantastic recipes.

Garment of Shadows by Laurie R. King

I apologize for the slow pace at which I'm posting this last little while. I have been working on writing a new novel for NaNoWriMo and am Beta reading several new books for up-coming authors (You will see posts for their books soon. . . and I can't wait for you to read these books. I feel spoiled for getting sneak peaks).  In the meantime, thank you for your patience.

Here is a list of the other titles in this series.  The ones with the hyperlinks are the ones I have reviewed so far on this site. Hopefully, soon, I will be able to re-read the entire series and provide you with reviews for the ones I haven't written yet.

- The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Book #1)
- A Monstrous Regement of Women (Book #2)
- A Letter of Mary (Book #3)
- The Moor (Book #4)
- O Jerusalem (Book #5)
- Justice Hall (Book #6)
- The Game (Book #7)
- Locked Rooms (Book #8)
- The Language of Bees (Book #9)
- God of the Hive (Book #10 )
- The Pirate King (Book # 11)

Title: Garment of Shadows (Mary Russell Series #12)
Author: Laurie R. King
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Mystery/Suspense
Rating: Like
Alerts/Warnings: Mild violence associated with espionage
Premise: "The shadows of war are drawing over the ancient city of Fez, and Holmes badly wants the wisdom and courage of his wife, whom he's learned, to his horror, has gone missing. As Holmes searches for her, and Russell, suffering a temporary memory loss, searches for her"self," each tries to crack deadly parallel puzzles before it's too late for them, for Africa, and for the peace of Europe" (King County Library Sytem).
Opinions: I quite enjoyed the premise of this book in the Mary Russell series. It was intriguing to see how Mary reacts as an amnesiac--what instincts she still goes on and yet seeing the world from new eyes. I am still fascinated by her relationship with Holmes and how well they work together, even when one or the other is not at their top game, to uncover the truth behind political espionage. It was enjoyable to be reintroduced to great characters from earlier books in the series and to see them in a new country.  Overall, though, my favorite character is this mute boy named Idir.  He is fasincating, spunky, and intriguing. I loved getting to know him. 

At times I did feel a bit overwhelmed by the backstory of the political unrest in the area the story takes place. However, they are fascinating details and pertinent to the plot.  What really strikes me is the author's ability to interweave details so intricate that the reader often does not realize that an entirely different story is being told then the one you think is being told (if that made any sense).

I continue to enjoy the entire Mary Russell series by Laurie R. King and highly recommend it to those who are fans of Sherlock Holmes or enjoy a good mystery.

Key Lime Pie by Josi S. Kilpack

To see my reviews of the first three books in the series click here: Lemon Tart, English Trifle, and Devil's Food Cake.

 

 

Title: Key Lime Pie (Culinary Mystery #4)

Author: Josi S. Kilpack
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Mystery
Rating: Adore
Alerts/Warnings: None
Premise: "Part-time detective and full-time food lover Sadie Hoffmiller has traveled to the Florida Keys to help her new friend, Eric, track down the whereabouts of his missing daughter, Megan" (King County Library System).
Opinions: This book continues on with the life of spunky, tenacious, food-addicted Sadie Hoffmiller.  I adore that the book begins with Sadie filling her community service duties as penetence for what happened in the last book.  I also loved the additional tension as Sadie has to determine her feelings for Eric (met in book 3) vs. Pete (met in book 1).  This is a great book for showing Sadie growing by leaps and bounds and she is full of faith in people and in food.  Josi S. Kilpack does a fantastic job carrying on an incredibly fun mystery series with inventive twists and turns that keep me reading.  I've already put book five on hold at my library.  I recommend you do too.

Devil's Food Cake by Josi S. Kilpack

To read my reviews of the first two books in this series click here: Lemon Tart, English Trifle.

Title: Devil's Food Cake (A Culinary Mystery #3)
Author: Josi S. Kilpack
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Mystery
Rating: Adore
Alerts/Warnings: None
Premise: "When a literary agent dies at a library fundraiser, Sadie Hoffmiller finds herself on the trail of the murderer. As she digs deeper into the mystery she discovers connections to an unsolved decade-old murder-suicide" (King County Library System).
Opinions: Sadie strikes again and my kids suffered for it. I spent all day with my nose in this book.  I did take a break to feed my kids lunch, but opted for a granola bar for myself so that I could return to this book's pages.

I love how easy and smooth Ms. Kilpack's writing is and yet I was still surprised by some of the twists and turns...let alone the culprit.  I love how everything revolves around food when it comes to Sadie Hoffmiller.  I love her tenacity and her spunk.  I also love how she mentally reevaluates the choices that she makes along the way.  I was glad to get to see her son, Shawn, in this book which allowed a deeper entrance for the reader into a different aspect of Sadie's life.  Overall, if you want to read a fun mystery, then this series is for you.

Lemon Tart by Josi S. Kilpack

Title: Lemon Tart: A Culinary Mystery (Book #1)
Author: Josi S. Kilpack
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Mystery
Rating: FABULOUS
Alerts/Warnings: Murder and nefarious behavior assorted with such crimes
Premise: "Cooking aficionado turned amateur detective Sadie Hoffmiller tries to solve the murder of her beautiful young neighbor--a single mother who was mysteriously lured from her home while a lemon tart was baking in her oven. At the heart of Sadie's search is the woman's missing two year-old child." (King County Library System)
Opinions: I KNOW!!! Two reviews from me in under a week. Since I was crazy and had a third kid last year I haven't been able to focus my brain power on as much reading as I would like. However, I've had several people recommend to me the works of Josi S. Kilpack. So I rushed a request off to my local library and yesterday they had the first book in this series ready and waiting for me. I've said it before, but I am a mystery fan. Have been since I was about 10 or so (memories get fuzzy with lack of sleep...oh and age). So I picked it up yesterday and here I am at almost 11:30 pm writing a review about this book. Why? Because I could NOT put it down. It was FABULOUS!!!

I love Sadie, the main character, she is brilliantly written. She is absolutely the kind of woman I would love to know. She is witty, intelligent, has dealt with struggles in life, but come out ahead. She also is kindhearted and tries to be helpful whenever she can(even if it gets her in trouble with the police). She is a spunky, sassy, brilliant heroine. On a side note, I also LOVE that there are recipes included at the end of each chapter. And the frustrating part is now I have to go buy a copy just to have the recipes (let alone the great mystery that comes with them). The suspense is great, and the twists and turns keep you jumping around trying to figure out who really committed the crime. The library better be ready for me, because now I simply have to read the rest of the series and I suggest that you check them out as well.

I Am Half Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley

To read my reviews of the other books in this series see: March 31, 2011 post for The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, April 20, 2011 for The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag, and Sept 1, 2011 for A Red Herring Without Mustard (I apologize that for some reason I can't get the hyperlinks to work at this time).


Title:I Am Half Sick of Shadows (Flavia De Luce #4)
Author: Alan Bradley
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Mystery
Rating: Love
Alerts/Warnings: Death associated with murder mysteries
Premise: "Colonel de Luce, in desperate need of funds, rents his beloved estate of Buckshaw over to a film company. They will be shooting a movie over the Christmas holidays, filming scenes in the stately manse with a famous and reclusive star. She is widely despised, so it is to no one's surprise when she turns up murdered, strangled by a length of film from her own movies! With the snow raging outside and Buckshaw locked in, the house is full of suspects. But Flavia de Luce is more than ready to solve the wintry country-house murder. She'll have to be quick-witted, though, to negotiate the volatile chemicals of a cast and crew starting to crack--and locked in a house with a murderer!" (King County Library System)
Opinions: I enjoy a really good murder mystery and this was a really fun murder mystery. Once again the preteen chemistry expert, Flavia de Luce, strives to solve a murder before the police. The thing that I quite enjoy about Flavia is that, even though she is brilliant, she is still a kid at heart and is looking for solid ground in life to stand on. She still has childhood wishes and dreams. This makes her a complex character that I love to read about. Flavia's ingenuity knows no bounds and her love for chemistry keeps the subject far from boring for one as me who isn't so proficient in that area. Mr Bradley does a fantastic job piquing the readers interest and leaving them looking forward to finding out what this pint-sized heroine will be up to next.

Dearly Departed by Tristi Pinkston

Title: Dearly Departed (Secret Sisters Mystery #2)
Author: Tristi Pinkston
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: LDS Fiction/Mystery
Rating: Fabulous
Alerts/Warnings: None
Premise: "Ida Mae Babbitt has done her community service and is a reformed woman—no more law-breaking for her. But when Arlette’s granddaughter Eden discovers a mystery in a fancy nursing home, Ida Mae—with the perfect excuse of a broken wrist and a broken ankle—checks herself into the place. After all, it is for the greater good. Soon she’s buzzing around in her motorized wheelchair, questioning the residents and swiping files from the office. She’s bound and determined to get to the bottom of this case. But can she solve the mystery before she becomes the next victim?" (GoodReads.com)
Opinions: Earlier this week I posted the review for the first book in the Secret Sisters series by Tristi Pinkston. I have to say that even though I loved the first book, I think the sequel is sensational. Just my non-professional opinion. If you're a lover of fun mysteries then this book will be right up your alley.

The humor carries through in this book just like the first one, which is a must. Plus, we get to see such fantastic characters excel to new heights. I adore Ida Mae and loved delving into her psyche even deeper and in such a tough physical situation for her. I also was excited to get to see more of Eden. She is my favorite character in this book. I love her internal battles, her spunk, and her willingness to dunk crispy bean burritos in ranch (rock on girlfriend - I thought I was the only one). I loved seeing the same crazy antics from some really awesome women placed in a new and exciting situation as they search into a possible murder. I can't wait to read more....so um, Tristi (if you're reading this)...when is the next installment coming out?

Secret Sisters by Tristi Pinkston

Title: Secret Sisters
Author: Tristi Pinkston
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: LDS Fiction/Mystery
Rating: LOVE
Alerts/Warnings: None
Premise: "Ida Mae Babbitt, president of the Omni 2nd Ward Relief Society, didn't mean to become a spy. But when visiting teaching stats are low, and she learns that one family under her care is in financial trouble, she'll do whatever it takes to make sure they have what they need. If that includes planting surveillance cameras in their home and watching them from a parked car in the woods... well, isn't that what any caring Relief Society president would do? With the help of her counselors, Arlette and Tansy, Ida Mae soon learns that there's more to the situation than meets the eye. But it's all in a day's work for the Relief Society." (Book Cover)
Opinions: I had read another of Tristi's novels a while back, so when my family and I saw Tristi at Costco one day we went ahead and bought the book she was signing. The only problem is that it was book two of the Secret Sisters series and I hadn't read book one yet. So I promptly went to my local library and requested that they purchase book one. It came in last week!!!! I was so excited to get it and begin to read it. I have to say, it was a fabulously unique read. It is what I would call LDS Fiction (the majority of characters are "Mormon")with a twist of detective story and a lot of humor. I love these characters. They are all so human, and brilliant, and lovable - especially Ida Mae. On top of that, Tristi's turn of phrases are perfect (i.e. check out pg 72 first paragraph - I nearly dropped the book laughing), especially if you understand LDS culture. The plot originally seemed unusual but the more and more I thought about it, and the more I read, I realized that I could so see that happening to a group of well-meaning women. So overall opinion? If your library does not have this book, please request it. It will be worth it. As for me, I can't wait for a doctor's appointment tomorrow so that I can delve into book two, Dearly Departed. Keep your eyes posted for a forthcoming review.

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

Title: The Beekeeper's Apprentice: On the Segregation of the Queen (Mary Russell #1)
Author: Laurie R. King
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Mystery/Historical Fiction
Rating: Fabulous
Alerts/Warnings: Mild Language
Premise: "A chance meeting with an elderly beekeeper turns into a pivotal, personal transformation when fifteen-year-old Mary Russell discovers that the beekeeper is the reclusive Sherlock Holmes, who soon takes on the role of mentor and teacher." (King County Library System)
Opinions: I LOVE this series from the moment I read this book for the first time. I just re-read it for the 5th time so that I could lead a book club discussion. I still LOVE this book. I've read many of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, and have seen even more of the film portrayals of them. I have always loved the way the stories are told, the mysteries, and the brilliant deductions. This book lets me continue my love for these type of stories by seeing the intricacies of the life of Sherlock Holmes from Mary Russell's point of view. The stories become even more brilliant because of Mary Russell herself. She is a complex character that matches wits with Sherlock Holmes and can possibly excel further from being under his tutelage. I love also seeing other characters from the traditional stories through a new, modern, and brilliant light. I also love how the characters become so real to you as you read. This is a must read if you love Sherlock Holmes or detective novels. And once you read this then you should read the ENTIRE series (I'm just saying....its that good).

Pirate King by Laurie R. King

To read my review of the first book in the Mary Russell series please click here: The Beekeeper's Apprentice.

Title: Pirate King (Book 11 Mary Russell series)
Author: Laurie R. King
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Mystery
Rating: Like
Alerts/Warnings: None
Premise: Sent to Lisbon and Morocco, where a British studio is creating a silent film version of "The Pirates of Penzance," Mary Russell investigates a series of crimes targeting the production and confronts a high-stakes situation when actual pirates orchestrate a hostage situation. "As Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes embark on their 11th adventure together, they find themselves immersed in the world of silent filmmaking. Here, the pirates are real-- and unlike the shooting done with a camera, this sort can be deadly" -- from publisher's web site.
Opinions: I LOVE/ADORE the Mary Russell series by Laurie King. So I was ecstatic to find that a new book was released last month. As soon as I could I went ahead and purchased it, eager to delve into its pages as soon as possible. At first I was confused by the concept of this story, but the longer I remained reading the more I fell into the fun of it. This was not quite typical to the rest of the series (even Mary Russell admits to this in the beginning of the book). But I love seeing Mary challenged in new areas and stretched in new ways as she works within a moving picture company to investigate some suspicious actions and the disappearance of the company's original assistant. I also love the intrigue of a story set in Portugal and Morocco and the idea of crossing paths with pirates. So as an ardent lover of this series I highly recommend that if you love Sherlock Holmes and mystery books than please rush to your nearest library or book store and begin the fun journey as your follow Mary Russell from one mystery to another.

A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley

To read the reviews of other books in this series please click here: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, The Weed the Strings the Hangman's Bag.



Title: A Red Herring Without Mustard (A Flavia de Luce Novel)
Author: Alan Bradley
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Mystery
Rating: Like
Alerts/Warnings: Mild Swearing, Moderately graphic descriptions of murder scenes
Premise: "Flavia had asked the old Gypsy woman to tell her fortune, but never expected to stumble across the poor soul, bludgeoned in the wee hours in her own caravan. Was this an act of retribution by those convinced that the soothsayer had abducted a local child years ago? Certainly Flavia understands the bliss of settling scores; revenge is a delightful pastime when one has two odious older sisters. But how could this crime be connected to the missing baby? Had it something to do with the weird sect who met at the river to practice their secret rites? While still pondering the possibilities, Flavia stumbles upon another corpse, that of a notorious layabout who had been caught prowling about the de Luce's drawing room. Her investigations will reveal more of Buckshaw's secrets as well as new information about Harriet, the mother Flavia never knew." (King County Library System)
Opinions: This is the third book in the murder mystery series that stars eleven year old Flavia De Luce. Like its predecessors it is ripe with intrigue, twists, and clever solutions revolving around chemistry. It is brilliantly written, but some of the descriptions of the scenes when the dead are found bothered me a bit (granted I am nine months pregnant and that maybe part of the reason). This particular novel not only revolved around solving the reasons behind vicious attacks and murders, I was really intrigued with the struggles that Flavia deals that force her to face the struggles of adulthood at her tender-but-brilliant age and to see her father from a different view point. If you enjoy a good murder mystery I think you will love the continuation of this series.

My Brother Michael by Mary Stewart

Title: My Brother Michael
Author: Mary Stewart
Reviewer: Karen
Genre: Adult Romance/Suspense
Rating: Like (I think)
Alerts/Warnings: Two overheard sex scenes, Some swearing, violence, murder
Premise: "Nothing ever happened to Camilla Haven -- until a stranger approached her in a crowded Athens café, handed her the keys to a black car parked by the curb,and whispered, "A matter of life and death."

The ride was Camilla's first mistake..." (Good Reads)
Opinions: I just reread this book for the third or fourth time and I have to say my opinion has changed over time. When we initially wrote our Top 100 book list over a year and a half ago this book was on the list (I even own it). I've been reading Mary Stewart books since a pre-teen and like I said this is not the first time I've read this book. The last time I read it was before I was married a good 10+ years ago. I still love seeing Greece through the eyes of the main character. I first fell in love with Greece because of Mary Stewart's descriptions in this book, and I still long greatly to visit this incredible and ancient land because of this book. I love the main character's struggle to find strength within herself after having ended a previous marriage. I love Simon and learning about the history of his brother Michael and what happened during World War 2 in Greece. My ultimate favorite character is a teenage boy by the name of Niko that we see periodically through the story. His vibrant energy is only matched by the kinds of clothes that he wears.

Where my attitude has changed in regards to this story is the reference to sex in the book that I don't recall so vividly from previous read throughs. Pardon me if I spoil a part of the story, but I feel compelled to explain why it bothered me. There are two scenes in the book were the main character is uncomfortably nearby when another pair of characters is having sex. Concerning how graphic it could be, I would say it was fairly clean and brushed over to some degree (I mean the main character does everything to ignore it this side of plugging her ears and saying "I'm not listening".) The biggest concern is the second time this happens it ends in the death of one of the characters because that person had learned too much about what their partner was involved in and the partner couldn't let the person live. So as romance books go the description is moderately clean, but I still felt it was highly disturbing to me at this stage in my life. As such, even though I LOVE the rest of the story, I feel compelled to take this book off of my Top 100 list and sell my copy. That is just my personal opinion. I still love Mary Stewart as an author and leave the decision up to you whether or not you choose to read this book.